Men's Basketball | August 14, 2019

LOS ANGELES--Former USC and NBA basketball player Jim Marsh, who twice set USC's season field goal percentage record, died on Monday (Aug. 12) in Portland, Ore., due to the effects of Parkinson's disease that he was diagnosed with in 2004. He was 73.

Marsh was a 3-year (1966-67-68) letterman forward at USC, serving as team captain his final two seasons when he broke the school season record for field goal percentage (51.9% in 1967, then 54.1% in 1968). He averaged 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in his 1968 senior season as the Trojans went 18-8 overall and finished second in the AAWU at 11-3, tying the school record for conference victories. He was the team's Most Improved Player as a sophomore in 1966 (averaging 4.9 points and 4.7 rebounds) and the Most Inspirational Player as a 1967 junior (9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds). He also won the team's top free throw shooter award in 1967 and 1968, averaging 77.1% each year. He came to USC from Pasadena (Calif.) High.

He was selected in the 11th round of the 1968 NBA Draft by Seattle SuperSonics and played one season in the NBA, in 1972 with the Portland Trail Blazers.

He was a graduate assistant coach at USC in 1971, then was an assistant coach at Utah, including on teams that won WAC championships in 1977 and 1981.

He spent 12 years as a television color commentator with the SuperSonics, starting in 1982.

He then coached AAU basketball in Seattle, mentoring such future NBA players as Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Isaiah Thomas and Spencer Hawes.

He also hosted an annual basketball tournament to raise awareness for Parkinson's disease and was the CEO of an organization he founded in 2004 to mentor Washington youths.

He is survived by his daughters Sherry and Jenny.